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Nov. 29, 1938. D. J, RICHARDSON DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Liu 5 ZHLO Nov. 29, E938. D. J. RICHARDSON 2,3&429

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NW 29, 1938. D. J. RICHARDSON DISPLAY DEVICE Filed OC. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jvmm.

Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to display devices and 'more particularly to devices of this character adapted to attract and hold the interest of spectators for advertising purposes and in which a succession of displays are automatically presented.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel device of the character indicated in which are incorporated various improvements in construction and detail by reason of which it is possible to present in succession a very large number of different displays in proportion to the space occupied by the device, to present each display with improved sharpness and detail, and to assure the correct alignment and regular succession of the display.

Various other objects will more particularly appear in the course of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter more specifically described and claimed. e Three sheets of drawings accompany this speciflcation as part thereof in which like reference characters indicate likeparts throughout.

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the coinplete device as it will appear to a spectator.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal crossJsectio-n.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section illustrating one of the switch controls.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the display panels with its associated supporting and spacing rods.r

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-section illustrating the tension device.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged scale crosssection of the screen showing a display panel in operative Contact therewith.

Fig. 9 is a plan of the drum surface lineally arranged to show the complete succession of an operative arrangement of trips. Y

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic layout of the lamp circuit. e

l Referring to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I indicates a container which may be of any convenient size or shape determined by the situation in which it is to be used but having a front face adapted to receive a screen 2 and a bottom upon which the operating mechanism can travel. Within the case I is-a carriage 3 having end walls 4 and mounted on rollers 5 arranged to permit the movements of carriage 3 toward and away from screen 2. The carriage 3 is normally drawn towards screen 2 by suitable tension devices herein illustrated as springs 6 arranged at end of carriage 3 and connected between lugs 'I mounted on end members 4 of the carriage, and lugs 8 mounted on the end Walls of the casing adjacent screen 2.

Mounted upon carriage 3 is a display assembly indicated generally as 9 and an operating assembly indicated generally as I0.

The display assembly 9 comprises as herein i1- lustrated a plurality of nested polygonal cylinders II, I2 and I3 which cylinders are of substantially identical construction so that a description of one will apply to each with such exceptions as will be pointed out. l

Each of these cylinders comprises two polygonal end members Ill-I4, one of which end members is' provided with a bushing Il adapted to be secured as by a set bolt I8 to a driving shaft I9 or a corresponding concentric tubular shaft 2t or 2l as the case may be, the driving shafts and the nested cylinders being telescoped as illustrated. The other end member I4 is provided with a bushing I5 adapted to rotate upon a fixed tubular shaft I6, The cylinders are engaged by frictional washers 62, which are xe'dly engaged with shaft I6 as by set screws 63 so as to dampen the movement of the cylinders. The shaft I6 is xedly supported from an end member 4 of carriage 3 by any suitable'means but here illustrated as a flange and a lock nut 6I. Through the xedtubular shaft I' extend the conductors for an electric lamp 52, supported upon the inner end of shaft I6 and within the innermost of the display cylinders.

The end walls I 4-I4 of each of the cylinders are connected'by means of rods 22 arranged in pairs, the pairs being spaced apart, these rods being provided adjacent each end with suitable holes 22a through which screws 22h extend into the end members I4. These rods 22 are further provided with longitudinally extending slots 22o, the slots of each pair of rods facing toward each other and adapted to receive' the edges of'panel members 23, which are preferably formed of some suitable resilient transparent material such as Cellophane or the like, each of which panels is provided with a display C, the remaining part of the panel 231 being rendered opaque in some suitable manner. The panels 23 are made slightly wider than-the space between rods 22 so that one of the slotted disks 33.

when positioned in the slots of the rods the member 23 is flexed transversely.

Each of the cylinders is provided with one face 25 wider than the remaining polygonal faces, this wider space 25 being left open to permit the free passage of light therethrough so that the same may engage the display panels of 'the other cylinders. The outermost cylinder is provided with ktwo of these enlarged open faces for reasons hereinafter described in connection with the operative device.

From the above description vof the display device proper it will be apparent that by means of the nested cylinders carrying the display panels a substantial number of these display panels can be provided in a very compact manner in a relatively small device. It will further be observed that by reason of the enlarged open faces of the cylinders and by means of the tension devices 6-6 the inner cylinders can be advanced successively so that their display panels may be brought forward into the same plane (detailed description of which operation follows in the subsequent description) and that by reason of the flexed condition of the display panels and the resilient character of the material from which they are 4constructed that each of the display panels when in operative position may be compressed against the inner face of the display screen 2, thus assuring the identical position of each of the display panels of each of the cylinders in the same. effective manner against that screen by means of which light transmitted from the source 52 will pass through the display part Cof each panel 23 when in proper position, and produce a sharp, clear and effective display to the eyes of a spectator positioned in front of the device.

The operative mechanism indicated generally by Il] and by means of which the display cylinders are operated in the proper sequence and order is also mounted upon carriage 3 and consists generally of a'motorV 45 operating through a suitabley reduction gearing not shown, a shaft 44- which shaft 44 carries upon its end a Geneva movement gear 43 adapted to engage the teeth of the complementary Geneva gear 42 which is mounted upon a shaft 35 carried by plates 36. Also mounted upon: shaft 35 are a'plurality of disks 32, 33, the disks 33 being provided withr transversely extending marginal slots 46 and these slotted disks being spaced apart by the disks 32 each of theslotted disks 33 and its associated spacing disks 32 being secured by bolts 34, and all the assembled disks being secured in rigid association with the Geneva drive gear 42 so that they operate together as a single unit or driving drum. Lugs 4| can be positioned in selected slots 40 of the slotted disks 33.

- The telescoped drive shafts I9, 2B, 2|, associated respectively with the display drums Il, I2, I3, extend through an-d are journaled in the upper parts of the wall members 36, and these shafts carry star gears 29, 30, 3|, respectively, each of said star gears being positioned above Suitable spacing members 39 are positioned between the star gears and the wall members 36, and are held in proper spaced relation by means of tubular members 38 through which are passed bolts 31, such spacing tubes and bolts being positioned conveniently at both the top andV bottom ofrthese` wall members.

Upon the drive shaft 44 is positioned a cam 50 adapted to ride under a switch 49 so that upon each rotation of shaft 44 the circuit to lamp 52 will be closed during substantially one half 4of the period of rotation and open during the remainder of that period.

Secured ,on one of the walls 36is a second switch 46 also arranged in the circuit of the lamp 52 (see Fig. 10) which switch 46 is adapted to be operated by lugs 48 which may be selectively inserted in marginal holes 41 provided in the end disk 32.

By means of the structure thus described it will be apparent that upon` each rotationv of shaft 44 the drum composed of the disks 32-33 and the gear 42 will be advanced one tooth by means of the Geneva gear 43, the drum being held constantly in locked position. Further, that by suitable arrangement of the lugs 4| in the disks 33 each advancement of the drum one tooth will selectively rotate one or more of the star gears 29, 36 or 3| one tooth corresponding to one of the polygonal faces of one of the display cylinders l i, I2', or |3, so that by suitable selection' and arrangement of the lugs 4| in the slots 40 a great variety of successive movements of the display drums may be secured as desired. v

To operate the carriage 3 in proper relation to the rotation of the drums cams 26 are secured one ,upon each of the end members |4-I4 of the outermost drum, each of these cams being provided, as herein illustrated, with two dwells, one for each of the large open faces of the outermost and intermediate drum. The cams 26 are adapted to engage rollers 21 carried by standards 28 secured one adjacent each end of the display drum assembly, and secured to the casing l as illustrated.

. By reason of this arrangement it will be apparent that as the outermost drum is rotated and when its enlarged and open' face eventually is brought toward the screen 2, roller 21 will enter one of the dwells in cam 26, thus permitting carriage 3 to bedrawn forward by spring 6, and

thus advance the entire device forward so that the display panels on: the innermost drum can successively contact and compress themselves against theinner face of the screen 2. The second dwell in cam 26 is so arranged that Whenall Y of the display panels on the innermost drum have passed over screen 2, land the enlarged open face of the innermost ldrum is advanced toward screen 2 the roller 2'|will enter into the second of these dwells thus forcing the carriage V3 away from screen 2 so as to bring the display panels of the intermediate drum into close engagement with screen 2. Y Y By reason of the switch arrangement Y illustrated the light 52 is off at all times that any of theA drums are moving and is selectively olf, even when the drums are not moving, andis on only at such times as the panels 23 are in proper alignment and compressed against the inner face of the screen 2. The screen 2 may conveniently be formedof glass upon the inner face of which is secured a suitable picture 53, against the inner surface of which is in turn secureda mat 54, having a cutout portion 54a against wln'ch the display panels 23 can engage, or the screen may if desired be entirely dispensed with and the display panels themselves constitute a part of any suitable larger display. l

Thus (referring to Figure l), the spectator will see a picture A illuminated directly by daylight or the ordinary lights of the room or place in which the device is located and within the picture A will appear the illuminated. display C Cil changing in regular succession. By making the .75

picture illustrate two or more persons it will be observed that the effect of a conversationY can be readily obtained, the display C being directed first to one character and then to another character B as desired.

Various modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For i1- lustration, the driving mechanism herein described may be readily utilized in conjunction with the display devices arranged in extended order rather than in nested cylindrical form as shown, and numerous other adaptations will readily suggest themselves.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim: y

l. In a display device a stationary screen, a movable exible display panel means for moving the panel into and out of register with a part of the screen and means for advancing the panel into close engagement with said part of the fixed screen and removing it therefrom.

2. In a display device a stationary screen, a movable flexible display panel held in exed form, and means for advancing the panel into close engagement with the screen under pressure and removing it therefrom.

3. In a display device a stationary screen, a plurality of movable flexible display panels, means for positioning said panels successively against a predetermined part of the fixed screen and removing them therefrom.

4. In a display device a stationary screen having thereon a pictorial or other display matter adapted to be visible under direct lighting and having a predetermined part thereof transparent, a source of light back of the screen, a plurality of transparent display panels having opaque display matter thereon, means for advancing said display panels successively between the screen and source of' light and in close surface contact with the said transparent part thereof and removing said panels therefrom and means for energizing said source of light only while said panels are in said close surface contact with the screen.

5. In a display device, a stationary screen, a plurality of display panels and carriers for said panels, said carriers being nested one within another and each comprising spaced end members, means for mounting the display panels between the end members of each carrier and means for rotating said carriers in succession and each carrier by a step by step movement whereby said panels are all successively brought into a common position with respect to the fixed screen.

6. In a display device, a stationary screen, a plurality of display panels and carriers for said panels, said carriers nested and each comprising spaced polygonal end members, the end members at one end of the device rotatable on a cornmon fixed shaft, a source of light mounted within the innermost carrier on said fixed shaft, the end members at the other end mounted on individual telescoped shafts, a gear on each of said shafts and means for selectively tripping said gears.

7. In a display device, a stationary screen, a plurality of display panels and carriers for said panels, said carriers nested, and each comprising spaced end members, the end members at one end of the device rotatable on a common xed shaft, the opposed end members mounted on individual telescoped drive shafts, a gear on each drive shaft having teeth proportional in number to the panels associated therewith, a drive cylinder having a plurality of pockets, lugs selectively arranged in said pockets to engage said gears' and means for rotating the drive cylinder including a Geneva movement whereby said cylinder is locked in its stationary positions intermediate each movement.

8. In a display device, a stationary screen, a plurality of display panels and nested carriers for said panels, each carrier comprising spaced end members, the end members at one end of the device rotatably mounted on a xed hollow shaft, the opposed end members mounted onv telescoped shafts one for each member, an electric lamp mounted on the Xed shaft with the conductors therefrom extending through said shaft, a switch in the lamp circuit, a gear on each of the telescoped shafts, a drive cylinder with means selectively arranged thereon for engaging the said gears, means, including a Geneva geanfor giving said cylinder a step by step rotation and means for operating the switch in said lamp circuit to complete the said circuit during and only during the stationary periods of the drive cylinder.

9. In a display device having a stationary screen and a plurality of display panels, nested carriers for said panels, each carrier comprising spaced end members, means for mounting the panels between said end members, said panels being arranged circumferentially to conform generally to a polygonal figure but one less in number than the faces of the particular polygon whereby an open space is provided on each carrier, a source of light within the innermost carrier, means for rotating the carriers in succession and each carrier by an intermittent step by step movement proportional to the display panels, means for securing each carrier successively with its open space between the source of light and the Xed screen and means for energizing the source of light only during stationary periods whereby the panels are brought successively between the source of light and the screen and while held in that position are illuminated.

10. In a display device a container having a screen front, a part of which is transparent, a carriage within the container, a plurality of nested polygonal drums rotatably mounted on the carriage, each of said drums carrying a plurality of display panels arranged to constitute the face walls thereof, each of said drums having one face open, the open face of each drum except the innermost being proportioned to the radius of the inner drum next adjacent, means normally drawing the carriage toward the screen, cams carried by the outermost drum having a dwell for each drum except the innermost with coacting rollers mounted on the casing and means for rotating the drums in succession and each drum by an intermittent step by step movement whereby the carriage will be advanced and all of the display panels successively positioned in a common plane in close contact with the transparent part of the screen.

l1. The device of claim 10 with an electric light within the innermost drum, two switches in the circuit of said light one of said switches normally closed, means for selectively operating said closed switch and means for automatically operating the other switch.

12. In a display device, a plurality of display elements, carriers for said elements, said carriers being nested one within another, means for rotating said carriers in succession each by a step by step movement corresponding to the display elements carried thereby, and means for advancing said carriers Whereby the display elements are successively brought into a common display position.

13. In a display device a plurality of display elements, carriers for said elements, means for automatically rotating said carriers in succession each by a step by step movementand manually adjustable means for selectively modifying the sequence and number of step movements.

14. In a display device a stationary screen having a rigid transparent layer, a layer bearing a display adapted for direct illuminationsecured to and on'the back face of the rigid layer, and an opaque mat having an aperture, said mat secured against and back of the display layer, a movable display panel means for bringing the display panel into register with the aperture of the mat and means for advancing the display panel when in register with said aperture of the mat into 20 close contact With the screen.

15. In a display device a composite screen comprising a rigid transparent sheet, a second sheet bearing a display secured against and with the display matter toward the rigid sheet and an opaque mat having an aperture secured against and back of the display sheet. f

16. In a display device, a plurality of display elements, carriers for said elements, said carriers being nested one Within another, means for rotating said carriers in succession each by a step by step movement corresponding to the display elements carried thereby, said means comprising gears operative of said carriers respectively, and means for selectively tripping said gears comprising drums, one for each gear, each drum provided With spaced sockets and removable pins Which may be placed in said sockets to engage said gears.

DANIEL J. RICHARDSON. 

